Is It Time To Find A New Hobby?

Well, I really hope not, but it seems that the price increases associated with firearms and ammunition are outpacing any other hobby that I have an interest in. I stopped by Bass Pro this weekend to look at two guns - a Smith & Wesson 686+ with a 4" barrel and a Ruger GP100 with a 4" barrel. They had both in stock on Saturday evening but I didn't buy either because I had a 10% off coupon for preferred customers (they said I was in the top 10% of spenders at their store :what:) at home that I forgot to bring. By Sunday I had decided on the blue GP100 and went back to get it. Well, as it turns out, the 686+ was gone, the blue GP100 was gone and there were no stainless GP100s either.:banghead: Needless to say, I was very bummed.

I asked for a raincheck for the 10% off coupon that expired the 20th (Sunday) and went back to check today to see if they had restocked. Well, they had not restocked but the price on the 686+ went from $599.99 to $699.99 and the stainless GP100 went from $499.99 to $539.99.:cuss:

I have had gun shop owners tell me that they typically have a price increase in January and another one sometime during the summer months. Wow! I work in an industry (electronics) where the prices change frequently, but in a downward direction, so, it makes these frequent increases somewhat difficult to swallow. Couple this with the frequent price increases in ammo and, holy smoke, things get expensive.

Maybe I'll have to get back to photography and bicycles and shoot just enough to feel comfortable carrying.:(

Rant over. Flame suit on!:neener:

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"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"

My next hobby is going to be reloading :rolleyes:

Bass Pro is not exactly the cheapest place to buy a new gun in my experience. At least the Oklahoma City Bass Pro is higher priced on almost everything!

I guess for me it is still my main hobby and interest I just approach it differently. A couple of years ago I shot about 10,000 shotgun shells a year (sporting clays and skeet) but I don't do that much anymore. Now, I just kinda of shoot fewer bullets and maybe a little less often to compensate.

First off you need to shop somewhere besides Bass Pro for firearms! I haven't bought a new firearm from a major dealer for nearly a decade. There are better deals on line and from ftof sales.

You are looking at spending $600?

For that price, you have several options.

1. Spend $200-250 on a good .22LR pistol and $350-400 on that .357 revolver you want (both used). If it were me, a Ruger MkII and an S&W 19/66/586/686 or Ruger whatever-you-like could all be done within these pice ranges.

2. Spend $200 on a .22LR pistol and $400 on a .22LR revolver. Ruger MkII and an S&W 17 or 18. Now you can quit worry about ammo prices and shoot all you want. :)

First off you need to shop somewhere besides Bass Pro for firearms!

You know, oddly enough, the Bass Pro in my area is not too bad on most of their prices. I have found handguns there for about the same price as most of the local guys. Sometimes they are a little more, sometimes they are a little less. And, I tend to buy locally when I buy new and support the shops where I live. By the time I ad the shipping and transfer fees it's not that much different. I usually buy from four different places in my area.

For that price, you have several options.

1. Spend $200-250 on a good .22LR pistol and $350-400 on that .357 revolver you want (both used). If it were me, a Ruger MkII and an S&W 19/66/586/686 or Ruger whatever-you-like could all be done within these pice ranges.

2. Spend $200 on a .22LR pistol and $400 on a .22LR revolver. Ruger MkII and an S&W 17 or 18. Now you can quit worry about ammo prices and shoot all you want.

I have a Walther P22 that I don't really like, so, I have thought about a Ruger 22/45 in order to do some cheap plinking. I also wouldn't mind a used .357. I missed out on a S&W 586 for $399 a couple of months ago and am still kicking myself.

_________________

"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"

I second the .22 pistol suggestion. Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mk. series are the best bets.

I think you need to look at percentages.

How much has gas gone up, steel, milk ect. That $100 price increase was absurd.

It has been a long time since the Old Fuff bought either a new car or a new gun. Both represent substantial deprecation the minute you walk out the dealer’s door and declining quality in many cases. Guns often recover their value, but it takes time.

We now live in an age of polymer high-cap pistols, which from my perspective is good because the majority of buyers aren’t interested in revolvers, or excluding the 1911 platform, older steel pistols. I see many interesting used handguns running anywhere from $200 to $400, which in today’s economy is inexpensive.

Ammunition costs are going to be a fact of life, but there are several options to help hold down the cost.

Buy a 9mm pistol, because surplus military ammunition is usually available and reasonably inexpensive.

As previously suggested, buy a good .22 pistol or revolver. Avoid the pocket-sized models and get something with decent sights.

Take up reloading – any cartridge you choose. You won’t save any money, but you will do more shooting.

Consider a cap & ball revolver. They can be great fun, and powder, balls and caps don’t cost as much as cartridges.

Shooting and gun collecting has never been an inexpensive hobby. But if you choose carefully what you buy will retain its value or even go up. I sure can’t say that about electronics or computers…

Most of my guns haven't been fired in almost a year.

Can't afford it.

The only gun that sees ammo through it anymore is my CCW.

I've picked up archery instead.

It's cheaper, the ammo is reusable and it's more socially acceptable.

Too bad though that it has come to that.

For me it's time to find a new higher level of education so that the higher prices don't affect me to the same degree. Now instead of going for a bachelor's I will be pursuing a Master's.

I've picked up archery instead.

It's cheaper, the ammo is reusable and it's more socially acceptable.

Those compound bows are great, but very uncomfortable to carry, especially IWB.

How do you CC a bow and arrow? Just wonderin'.:neener:

Sportsman's Wearhouse in Burlington, WA just raised their prices today. My Ruger SP101 3" that I bought yesterday for $439 is now $469.

I have lots of hobbies and my gun buying and shooting is moderate so it is not very expensive for me (and I reload). Not like skiing for example.

My next hobby is going to be reloading

Yep, me too. Gun price increases are nothing compared to the ammo increases.

How do you CC a bow and arrow? Just wonderin'.

Open carry, how else?

I tried small of the back but that was hard to do when driving.

Maybe I'll have to get back to photography and bicycles. Or photograph your gun, or take it for a bike ride just to keep it gun related :(

Maybe I'll have to get back to photography and bicycles

Hate to be the bringer of bad news, but bicycle components are seeing a fairly significant price increase currently. At least based upon reports I'm seeing on some cycling sites. Not sure about photography.

Great hobby however bullets have doubled in price in past 4 years so it is
increasingly difficult to save money reloading however I would never give it up
because I can tailor the load for the gun plus I've reloaded over 40 years now.

Sure, guns are a bit pricey, but if you choose well and buy used, they don't depreciate much, if at all. It's the ammo that'll kill you.

As long as I can pick up a brick of .22 cheap, I'll keep shooting. I have several... Ruger 22/44, Buckmark, Win63 clone, 10/22, Revolver, Savage bolt gun... and I'm looking to add a TC R22, and perhaps a dedicated .22lr AR upper. Can't imagine having more fun at the range than I do with these!

I decided a year ago to start reloading. I hate to scrounge for brass, so I'm only reloading revolver and bolt gun cartridges. Since that time, I've shot several thousand rounds of .44mag and .38/.357, found decent loads for plinking, long range targets, bowling pins, defensive loads, etc. I find that I enjoy the reloading almost as much as the shooting!

My .308 (PTR91) generally stays home these days... and I don't shoot my bottom-feeders much, but I'll be darned if I'm going to let ammo prices keep me away from the range!

Dry practice.

It is not a hobby; it is part of me.

The first handgun that I ever owned was a .38 Colt Diamondback. I believe that I paid about $150. or so back in 1967. What do you suppose they are asking for that now? Wish I still had that one!

I've sold most of the guns that I was collecting because I simply wanted them (had to have), and concentrate now on the guns that serve a purpose. I didn't start this because of rising prices, it was just a decision I made to simplify my life. I've done the same with pretty much all of my other hobby stuff too.

I love to shoot, but now I regularly practice shooting my carry guns, home and truck guns, and home protection shotgun. I don't hunt much anymore, but I do sometimes shoot a couple of rifles that belonged to my father and my first rifle.

Money from the sales of my "had to have 'em" guns goes toward stocking up on ammo for the ones I do use. I do still have a bit of a holster addiction going on, but hey, nobody's perfect.

I have a couple more guns to sell, and when I do I'll be buying reloading stuff. I have a range behind my barn and my eight-year old already collects my spent brass and separates them into containers. In turn she gets to practice with her BB and pellet rifles and guns.

It's not for everyone, but it works for me.

rd

Of my 4 hobbies, Shooting has gone up least. The price of fuel has made the cost of every thing go way up.

Airguns :) (I'm a bit ranty about this lately, making up for a misspent youth in which I didn't fire airguns nearly as much as I now wish I had ;))

Get one of these: http://www.pyramydair.com/p/izh-46M-match-air-pistol.shtml -- and shoot for precision ;cheaper than reloading, and with far more latitude in where you can shoot.

Not being the Sausage King of Chicago or anything, I have a far more modest choice -- http://www.pyramydair.com/p/crosman-1377-pump-pistol.shtml

The first two shots I fired from it (basement, poor lighting, resting the gun, but on a shaky ping-pong table) came within about an inch of each other at 35 or so feet. To some people, that would be an awful indictment of the guns inherent cruddiness, since pellets did not form but a single hole, whereas to me, that means "Yow! This gun is plenty accurate for me!"

timothy

I feel your pain. Prices are going up and my thirst for anything firearm related just gets worse and worse. But instead of getting a new hobby, I think I'll look for a better JOB!

I just spent 30 bucks on 144 guitar picks. I haven't done the math but I would think that's pretty close to ammo prices. Add in guitars, amps, effects, patch cords, mixers, public address systems, speakers and the multitude of other stuff you need and shooting doesn't look so bad.

2 Dunlop Nylon Standard Guitar Pick
(.73MM 6 Dozen) (#110020) $29.98


2 GHS GBL Boomers Light 010 Electric Guitar Strings
Standard Return Rules $8.99
$4.49 $1.25 $8.98

continue shopping
Subtotal $38.96
Shipping: $4.98
Tax: $4.29
Total: $48.23

I think Old Fuff has the right idea. If I start buying used, it would definitely slow down my purchases because I just don't run into that many used guns that I think I have to have. Plus, the search is part of the fun when looking for the next great find.

I also think that I will start shooting .22 pistols for fun. Ammo prices are reasonable so I can have a lot of fun for ten bucks. I priced a new Ruger 22/45 with a 4" barrel today. I can get it for $250, which doesn't seem too bad compared to some of the other stuff I've been looking at (I know, I just said that I was going to start looking for used guns).

Hate to be the bringer of bad news, but bicycle components are seeing a fairly significant price increase currently. At least based upon reports I'm seeing on some cycling sites.

Well, I already have five bikes and a frame to build up. Plus, I really like the old vintage frames and components, so, I can usually get that stuff for a pretty reasonable price. I have probably spent less on bicycles in the last 15 years than I have on guns and ammo in the last year alone.:eek:

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"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscuit!"

Well for many THR is their new hobby. Haha. Laugh it might be true.

:)

I just spent 30 bucks on 144 guitar picks. I haven't done the math but I would think that's pretty close to ammo prices. Add in guitars, amps, effects, patch cords, mixers, public address systems, speakers and the multitude of other stuff you need and shooting doesn't look so bad.

Yeah, except think of what it would be like if you had to grab a new pick every time you strummed your guitar!

See the deal with ammo is once you use it, it's gone!

Unless you reload. Then you fool yourself into believing your saving money by spending it on ridiculous amounts of equipment.

Then you fool yourself some more buy saying you'll make up the difference over time. Maybe if you shoot competition and are a doctor for a living.

That money IMHO could be spent on more ammo.

I've been down this road. I bought a press and some dies, powder, bullets primers reloaded 100 rounds did the math, laughed and stopped that hobby.

Because, oh wait, I'd need a bullet puller, powder scale, case trimmer and god knows what else to do it "the right way".

Forget it. That money would buy a pile of ammo and I can just sell the once fired brass and get about half my money back.

(sigh)

As to the OP. In Canada we have seen a marginal decrease in the cost of firearms. It has to do with the purchasing power of the Canadian Dollar. Perhaps the increase in your costs are for a similar reason?

You nailed it, you Canadian you. =P

Cost of lead going up from increased demand? Or rapid inflation of the U.S. dollar.

The stock market just fell 400 points, you be the judge.

/Too bad we're borrowing the dollar into worthlessness to build democracy in the middle east.

Everything goes up but the guns and especially ammo is getting me down. I'm gonna be shooting more and more .22lr it seems. Indoor range fees are kind of high generally in my area too. Eating is another hobby of mine:) and I've noticed food prices are up a good bit.

I think it's all a matter of perception. Here's something you may want to try:

1. Stop anything to do with firearms.
2. Start collecting fine Roman or Greek antiquities for a while, then stop.
3. Go back to firearms...you'll appreciate the price break:)

See, perception!

Have fun,
DFW1911

You are right about the perception angle. The only problem with that is when I collected anything is was stuff like Hotwheels, ballcards, etc. So, Firearms are my Greek and Roman antiquities.:neener:

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"Phydeaux, bad dog....no biscut!"

Gun prices are always up when I want to buy a gun. When I want to sell one, prices seem to be in a steep decline...

I can't decide which ones to keep and which ones to sell, and thus far I haven't been able to buy one without selling/trading one (or two) and losing money in the process...

In a perfect world I would have a shotgun, rifle and handgun, all three serving multiple purposes....but that seems to limit the fun a bit. In a perfect world I wouldn't live in a city, but in a rural setting with a combination covered deck/gun range on the back of the house...

I can dream, can't I?

I went and laid away what will become my new regular carry gun today, its a Taurus PT1911 in stainless. I made this choice for several reasons, one the gun is relatively inexpensive as it will need no mods, its in my prefered caliber, and I love that hammer lock on it. Due to the rising costs and financial situations I'm going to begin tayloring my collection to more useful and purposefull weapons. Laid out a plan to get rid of the guns I bought just because I wanted them and use the funds to buy the things I feel I need around the house. I intend to purchase only 4 more guns then start liquadating the surplus. I figure I'll have 7-8 weapons then. Two good shotguns, a centerfire rifle with scope, a .22LR, a full size 1911 for carry, a compact .38 for carry, and my .44 blackhawk for pistol hunting. The ones that still need purchased are one of the shotguns, a new rifle in 30.06, a hammerless 38, and a good 22LR.

Okay, I guess it's my turn to do the obligatory stale stab at humor:

Shooting is too expensive. I say it is time for you to stop throwing good money after bad! Let old farts with fat pensions take on the burden. Send me your guns and start saving today! Take up boating instead -sun, fun and chicks dig 'em. :D
James

All I've done to adjust for the higher prices is shoot more .22LR. A range day would see me generally going thru 3-4 boxes of 9mm, .40, or .45 - and this is getting expensive. Now I generally shoot a box thru one of the centerfires and then blast away with a wallymart bulk pack in one of the rimfires. In fact, just bought a Dan Wesson .22 on Gunbroker to add to the fun...

I'm with Fuff. I buy used revolvers for largely the same reasons.

I also practice archery (something like 20+ years) and play guitar. But, my appetite for thrift and elegance extend there as well with my choices being recurve bows and flamenco guitar (no picks).
Apparently, I enjoy the ironic effectiveness of anachronistic tools.

I just spent 30 bucks on 144 guitar picks. I haven't done the math but I would think that's pretty close to ammo prices. Add in guitars, amps, effects, patch cords, mixers, public address systems, speakers and the multitude of other stuff you need and shooting doesn't look so bad.

2 Dunlop Nylon Standard Guitar Pick
(.73MM 6 Dozen) (#110020) $29.98


2 GHS GBL Boomers Light 010 Electric Guitar Strings
Standard Return Rules $8.99
$4.49 $1.25 $8.98

continue shopping
Subtotal $38.96
Shipping: $4.98
Tax: $4.29
Total: $48.23


I play guitar for a living and I kind of understand your comparison, but there are a couple differences here!

Do you break a string every time you strum your guitar??? Also, do you lose your pick every time you play a note? If so, it might be time to find another hobby/profession than playing guitar! :D

A pack of 6 dozen of my preferred picks will last me a couple years or more, whereas 72 rounds of ammunition will only last me a few minutes if I'm shooting a pistol, and maybe an hour if I'm shooting a high powered rifle. A set of strings will typically last me 2-3 days worth of gigging, and I feel I change too much! Some guys get weeks or months out of a set of good quality strings!

I'm just making observations and messin' with you a bit, but my shooting habit is far and away more expensive than my guitar habit! And I have a 'few' musical toys as well...but we won't get into that...:cool:

oldie

I saw two today at a gun show. Both were blued, 4" barrel, one was just the gun, the other was complete with box and papers. Both were very clean in appearance. The one without any box was $800; the one with was $900.

Well in 2002 I could get 1000 Berry's 9mm bullets for $39. 5.56 and .223 could be found for $150/1K everywhere. WWB was $11 at wallyworld. Of course I was also towing a racecar most warm weekends anywhere from 2-400 miles in an 8mpg dually and paying $1.22 a gallon for gas. I'll get another race car, but I believe the tow horse is going to have to be a modern diesel. Everything is expensive. find cheap ways to shoot, use a .22 to tide you over until you get money.